November 9, 2023 - 25 Cheshvan 5784 | | | In today's update: We are continuing meetings with legislators since the war broke out - 32nd meeting and counting; the tragic killing of Paul Kessler; dismay at opposition to Illinois school choice program; mazel tov to Rabbi Schnall! Girls - join Bnos is saying Tehillim in these troubled times; our brief in a California religious discrimination case; an unprecedented increase in security funding in Florida; and finally, please continue to help our brothers and sisters in Eretz Yisroel - both with your tefillos and with your support.
Did you get this email as a forward? You can subscribe to the Agudah's updates by clicking here. | | | Agudah Regional Offices Meeting With Legislators about Eretz Yisroel and Antisemitism | | | Agudath Israel met with Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO), who as chair of the Subcommittee on National Security, Illicit Finance, and International Financial Institutions, introduced the Iran Sanctions Accountability Act, which aims to curb Iran's funding of terrorist groups like Hamas. | | Agudath Israel met with Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA), who spoke out very strongly against calls for a ceasefire, and strongly condemned the killing of Paul Kessler, that took place at a pro-Palestinian rally in LA. | | | Agudath Israel met with Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) to thank him for his strong support of Israel. Among the issues discussed was rising antisemitism on college campuses and the danger posed TikTok by allowing itself to become a platform for pro-Hamas propaganda. | | | | Agudath Israel Statement on Jewish Man Killed at Pro-Palestinian Protest
The animosity and incitement that has characterized "pro-Palestinian" demonstrations is abhorrent. And now it has taken the life of an elderly Jewish man, Paul Kessler, in Los Angeles. Agudath Israel is appalled, though not surprised, that the overheated, misguided emotions that have roiled many of the demonstrations ostensibly calling for a "free Palestine" but in fact advocating the destruction of Israel has resulted in the violent death of an innocent man. We call on authorities across our great country to recognize the potential for violence in "pro-Palestinian" protests and to take every possible step to ensure the safety of those who are hated by some unconstrained protesters. Agudath Israel laments the victim's death al kiddush Hashem, and extends deepest sympathies to his family and to all who knew him. May they, and all of Klal Yisroel, be granted comfort, and the protection that ultimately is granted by the Creator. | | | | Agudath Israel Dismayed by Congresswoman Schakowsky's Letter on Scholarship Program
Agudath Israel of Illinois is disappointed by United States Representative Jan Schakowsky's (D-IL) efforts to end Invest in Kids, an Illinois state scholarship program. Since 2018, Invest in Kids has provided scholarship funds to thousands of economically disadvantaged students in Illinois, including hundreds of Orthodox Jewish students. Agudath Israel of Illinois and its coalition partners are working to extend the program past the January 1, 2024 deadline. Representative Schakowsky, however, decided to rally fellow members of Congress against extending the program, and released a joint letter calling on Illinois' state legislators to end it.
Read more below, or by clicking here. | | |  | | Agudath Israel Congratulates Rabbi Avi Schnall on Election Victory in New Jersey
Agudath Israel of America extends its heartfelt congratulations to Rabbi Avi Schnall on his hard-fought victory in the race to represent New Jersey's 30th Legislative District in the General Assembly. As Director of Agudath Israel's New Jersey office for nearly a decade, Rabbi Schnall served as the respected voice of the Orthodox community in Trenton and across the state. Avi quickly earned a reputation as someone who knows how to accomplish and demonstrated his ability to build consensus by working with politicians on both sides of the aisle. These skills will serve him well in his new role as an Assemblyman. "Whether it was protecting religious rights, successfully fighting for equitable services and funding for nonpublic students, or simply providing guidance to the thousands of individuals and institutions that reached out for Agudah's assistance, Avi Schnall delivered for his community," said Rabbi A.D. Motzen, Agudath Israel of America's national director of government affairs. "It is therefore no surprise that Avi was able to galvanize the Lakewood community and with the encouragement of rabbis, lay leaders, and many supporters, pull off an upset victory." "The unprecedented high voter turnout and unity displayed by the community demonstrates the increasing voice of the Orthodox Jewish community in elections and Avi's ability to bring people together for a common cause," said Rabbi Shlomo Schorr, legislative director for Agudath Israel's New Jersey's office. "I look forward to working with Assemblyman-elect Schnall in his new role." | | | | Attention girls in grades 5-8: Join Bnos Agudas Yisroel in helping Acheinu Bnei Yisroel in Eretz Yisroel
Here's how it works: · Get together the girls in your neighborhood in one house · Give out a Tehillim to each girl · Before saying each perek first tell everyone what the theme/idea of the perek is · Then say a story about the power of Tehillim · Have in mind our brothers and sisters in Eretz Yisroel To start a group and get the stories and perakim please call 212-797-9000 ext: 353 or email bnos@agudah.org
For more information: CBHass@agudah.org | | | | Protecting the Rights of Religious Students: Agudath Israel Files Amicus Brief in Loffman vs. California Department of Education
Last week, Agudath Israel of America filed an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief in favor of a coalition of Orthodox Jewish schools and parents of special needs children who are suing the California Department of Education and others for discriminating against religious individuals by preventing religious school students from receiving full funding for special education services.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law that provides funding for special education programs in both public and private schools to enable children with disabilities to obtain the education that will help them succeed. However, the law in California mandates that IDEA funding can only be given to non-religious schools, even if the religious school is best able to meet a particular student's needs.
Read more below, or by clicking here. | | |  | | Agudath Israel's Florida Office Hails Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature for an Unprecedented $45 Million in Security Funding This week Florida Governor Ron DeSantis called a special session to address urgent concerns to Florida residents in light of the current circumstances in America and Israel. In the last month, hate crimes in the United States have increased exponentially, particularly those perpetrated against Jews. One of the session's priority agenda items was assuring the safety of Florida citizens at risk of hate crimes; today, both the House and the Senate increased the state's security funding to $45 million. "Since the beginning of the current crisis in Israel, Governor DeSantis has stood firmly with Israel and with the Jewish people, disbanding student groups that were expressing support for terrorism, sending aid and support to Israel, and doing everything in his power to bring American citizens back home," said Rabbi Moshe Matz, director of Agudath Israel's Florida office. "We are extremely grateful to Governor DeSantis for calling this special session to support Israel and increase the security of our community and our state during this difficult time."
Read more below, or by clicking here. | | | | Agudath Israel Dismayed by Congresswoman Schakowsky's Letter on Scholarship Program, continued:
Contrary to the claims made by Congresswoman Schakowsky, the Invest in Kids funding has no adverse impact on public school funding. Ending the program would only cause harm to the 9,600 scholarship students, most of whom are minorities, who rely on the program. By supporting the termination of the Invest in Kids program, Representative Schakowsky is effectively advocating for the interruption of children's educational experience, which can have lifelong consequences. Her district has more students on scholarship than any other in the state.
"We are deeply disappointed with Representative Schakowsky for leading an effort that could adversely impact more than 9,600 school children, hundreds of whom are her constituents," said Rabbi Shlomo Soroka, director of government affairs at Agudath Israel of Illinois. "Her rhetoric on this issue is both harmful and painful to our community and we hope that she takes a more thoughtful and sensitive approach in the future." | | | | Protecting the Rights of Religious Students: Agudath Israel Files Amicus Brief in Loffman vs. California Department of Education, continued:
The lawsuit, filed by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, was dismissed and is now being appealed at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Agudath Israel's brief argues that religious schools should be eligible to receive the services. The submission emphasizes that being in a religious setting is a vital part of meeting a child's educational needs:
"[A]n Orthodox student with disabilities ... can maximize her potential only if she receives an education in a religious setting—one that follows the same daily practices and routines with which she is familiar from her house and community. The entire premise of the IDEA is that children with special needs, more so than other children, require an educational setting that is appropriate for their specific circumstances. Placement in a setting ill-suited for a child could have far-reaching detrimental consequences for the healthy development of that child."
Agudath Israel thanks attorneys Shai Berman, Yehudah Buchweitz, Daniel Lifton, and David Yolkut of Weil, Gotshal, and Manges for authoring the brief, with assistance from Agudath Israel's General Counsel Daniel Kaminetsky.
"Agudath Israel has spent decades advocating on the federal, state and local level for greater access of special education funding and services to families choosing Jewish day schools," said Rabbi A.D. Motzen, Agudath Israel's national director of government affairs. "We will continue to fight in statehouses and courthouses for these students and their families."
"It is essential that laws that are discriminatory or deny rights afforded to religious citizens by the Constitution are challenged," said Mr. Kaminetsky. "Agudath Israel will always act to ensure these rights are not abrogated." | | | | Agudath Israel's Florida Office Hails Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature for an Unprecedented $45 Million in Security Funding, continued:
The $45 million is coming from two different security funds: $25 million of the funding is earmarked exclusively for Jewish day schools, increased from the original $5 million. The remaining $20 million will be allocated through the state's Nonprofit Security Grant program to all Florida nonprofits which are at high risk of attack, including shuls and other houses of worship.
This Monday, November 6, Rabbi Avrohom Luban, associate director of Agudath Israel's Florida office, testified before the Senate Fiscal Policy committee and House Appropriations committee, in favor of this bill.
Agudath Israel has long been at the forefront of advocacy for establishing security funding on the federal and state level and continues to advocate for such programs' expansion and funding. Such funding is vital for our community, helping to provide our institutions with safety and security equipment. The funding increase in Florida is a tremendous precedent showing what the government can and should do to ensure the safety of its citizens. | | | May Hashem heed our tefillos - and may we share besuros tovos. | | | | | |
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